Arthritis and Senior Exercise: 4 Helpful Tips

Home Care Services in Wellesley, MA – Helpful Tips for Maintaining Your Elderly Loved One’s Exercise Level Despite Arthritis Concerns

There are an estimated 52.5 million Americans dealing with arthritis at this time (CDC). Many of them are seniors and the disease can make it difficult to take part in various activities and get things done throughout the day. Arthritis can cause pain in the joints, stiffness, and make it difficult to even take part in an easy exercise routine.

However, just because the senior may have arthritis, it doesn’t mean they should give up exercise altogether. A family caregiver or non-medical in-home care provider can support the senior and encourage them to get exercise and reduce the impact arthritis has on their life.

Below are a few tips for helping your senior loved one continue to get important exercise while they are dealing with arthritis symptoms:

1. Start out slow. There’s no need to try rushing into any type of exercise regimen. The senior should always consult his or her doctor before taking on a new exercise routine, but as long as they get the green light from their primary care physician, it’s a good idea to start slow.

Get into a warm-up routine. This warm-up routine should be gentle, basic range of motion exercises. Some of these could be moving the arms in small circles, rotating the hips slowly, and touching their toes.

2. Make pain management a priority. The senior should see their doctor before starting any new exercise regimen so that they can get any potential anti-inflammatory medications or therapies prescribed ahead of time. Once the arthritic inflammation and pain are under control, it will make the exercise routine easier for them to do.

3. Pay attention to impact. Exercising with arthritis can be exacerbated when relying on high impact routines. Jogging in place, lifting weights, and other high impact activities can be problematic.

Water activities, such as water aerobics and even stationary cycling can have tremendous benefits because of their low impact.

4. Avoid the same routine. It’s a good idea to mix things up every so often. Keeping the same exercise routine day in and day out can cause the joints to become stiff and inflamed. By mixing it up, it will cause different muscles to be used on various days.

It can also provide emotional benefits for the senior when they get to do a different exercise on different days.

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